Patients in shock, disbelief over sudden closure of doctor's office

FBI, DEA investigating at Family Medicine on 1600 block of Callaghan Road

SAN ANTONIO – The emergency closing of a doctor's office Tuesday on the city's West Side left patients in shock and disbelief.

FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration agents were seen going in and out of Family Medicine in the 1600 block of Callaghan Road taking pictures.

Both agencies were tight-lipped about the investigation, only saying that multiple federal and state agencies were involved in the probe, including the Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Patients who showed up for appointments were left to read a handwritten note on the door that said, "Office closed due to emergency!!"

Joe Stoudt drove from Floresville for an appointment but was told the office was closed. He said someone from the office called him Monday to remind him of his appointment.

"I've been coming here for many years, a lot of years. My mom used to come here before she passed away. I don't know (what's happening)," he said.

Several other people were also turned away from seeing Dr. Javier Bocanegra, who runs Family Medicine.

"Doctor Bocanegra is a wonderful doctor. He's a wonderful doctor, and if something illegal is going on there he has nothing to do with it," said Mercedes Johnson, a longtime patient.

The probe also forced the closure of the office of rhumatologist Dr. Alex De Jesus in the 7900 block of Fredericksburg Road.

Refresh this page for updates on this developing story.


About the Authors:

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.